How life has changed in Stockport

Stockport's population decreased by about 1,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population decreased

In the decade to 2011, the population of Stockport fell by 0.4%, from almost 285,000 to 283,000.

The loss of just over 1,000 people means this area's population decreased by 0.4% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Stockport was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stockport

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stockport increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This area had a higher average age than the North West and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 10,000.

About 11.0% of people in Stockport are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Stockport saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.3%) households in Stockport had a single parent, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 38.0% to 34.0%.

Across the region, only Hyndburn saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 10.1% to 12.5%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.2% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 13.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stockport decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stockport, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stockport

The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.6% to 7.4%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 88.9%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Stockport

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Stockport, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.6 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 26.9% of respondents in Stockport said they had no religion, up from 15.3% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 67.6% of respondents in Stockport said they were Christian, down from 81.2% in 2001. About 3.6% said they were Muslim, up from 1.9% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Stockport increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Stockport by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Stockport, but at a slower rate than in Bury (one of the most statistically similar areas to Stockport based on ONS area classifications).

In Stockport, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.5% in 2001 to 11.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Bury increased from 6.7% to 13.8%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

The rate of social housing in Stockport remained close to 13.6%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77.2% to 73.2%.

Private renting in Stockport increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stockport, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Stockport

The percentage of single people in Stockport increased from 28.0% to 32.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (48.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 52.8% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Stockport that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.4% to 11.7%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.1% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stockport working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11.5% to 8.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Stockport decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stockport, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Stockport

In 2011, 4.9% of Stockport residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.6% in 2001. The 2.3 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 92.1% of people in Stockport said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.7% in 2001. About 1.8% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.4% to 0.7%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Stockport increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Stockport residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.9% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that were self-employed increased from 8.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Stockport increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Stockport, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Stockport residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Stockport remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Stockport without children remained close to 60.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.3%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.0% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Stockport with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10.1% to 10.7%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 59.3% in 2001 to 60.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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